How to verify a Kenyan Citizen

The East African country Kenya is expecting to have a strong economic recovery as the nation's vaccination gains momentum and the services industry rebounds from a brutal pandemic fallout. According to forecasts, Kenya willgrow at a 6.6% rate in 2021as compared to a 0.6% rise in 2020. The International Monetary Fund stated that this is the highest growth rate in at least a decade driven by increased activity in the service sector.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Status

Kenya is not on the FATF List of Countriesthat have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies.

Regulators

Central Bank of Kenya

The Central Bank of Kenya, established in 2010, is responsible for formulating monetary policy to achieve and maintain price stability. The Bank promotes financial stability; an effective and efficient payment, clearing, and settlement system; develops and implements foreign exchange policies; holds and manages foreign exchange reserves; issuing currency; and is the banker for, adviser to, and fiscal agent of the Government.

Capital Markets Authority (CMA)

The Authority was established under the National Treasury and Planning Act on December 15, 1989. TheCMAis a regulating body with the responsibility of supervising, licensing, and monitoring the activities of market intermediaries, including the stock exchange and the central depository and settlement system and all the other persons licensed under the Capital Markets Act.

Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG)

TheESAAMLGis a regional body established to combat money laundering and terrorist financing by ensuring the adoption of FATF's 40 Recommendations. Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe make the members of this group. It also includes several regional and international observers such as AUSTRAC, Commonwealth Secretariat, East African Community, FATF, IMF, SADC, United Kingdom, United States of America, UNODC, World Bank, and World Customs Organization.

Relevant regulations

On March 3, 2017, the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, signed the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Billinto law. The Amendment Bill would strengthen the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) by giving them the power to impose civil penalties against persons (both natural and juridical) who defy its authority. Yet, in 2020, the countryrankedamong significant money laundering jurisdictions globally, with transactions totalling 1.78 billion USD.

Kenyan verification available

Any Kenyan citizen can be verified using government, commercial or credit data sources. Based on the documentation verified against the data sources you can validate the name, date of birth (DOB), and address. Kenya citizens can be verified using the following documents:

National Identity Card

The national ID Kenya is issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya. All Kenyans who attain the age of 18 years are eligible for the Kenyan card. Kenyans with declared Kenya citizenship by registration are also entitled to allotment of the identity card. You can verify your customers' DOB, gender, name, and card number.

Passport

The Ministry of Interior and Coordinationof National Government under the Republic of Kenya issues the Kenyan passport and other travel documents. You can verify your customers' nationality, name, and DOB through the applicant's Kenya passport.

Driver Licence

In 2012, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) of Kenya was established to harmonise the operations and help in effectively managing the road transport department and issuing licenses. You can verify your customers' name, address, DOB, and Licence number.

AML Screening

Global watchlists can identify if Kenyan citizens are high-risk individuals or entities. You canscreen your customersagainst PEPs, Sanctions, and adverse media lists.